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Call to Worship (Psalm 100)

L: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
P:Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
L:Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
P: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
L: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
All: For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

A Responsive Call to Worship
L: We come this morning to worship together.
P: Different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we are children of the same Parent, created lovingly by the same Source of life.
P: different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we have one teacher, Jesus Christ who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
P: different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
P: Blessed be the One who comes to us in the name of the Lord!
L: Let us worship the Lord!

Prayer of Confession

Shepherd of our soul, we come to you with humble hearts asking forgiveness for our sins and shortcomings.

We confess that we have rebelled against your love.
We have turned away from you and followed the ways of the world.  We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves, we have not heard the cry of the needy, and we have not devoted ourselves to you in the advancement of your kingdom on earth.

Forgive us, we pray, and restore us to perfect union with your will and purpose.  By your Spirit empower us to render our offerings of time, service, devotion and tithes from the sincerity of our hearts.  We pray in the Name you have set above all names--Jesus our Christ. Amen!

 

Christ the King Sunday Prayer
(A. Campbell Frazier, England, 20th Century, ALT):

Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ a realm,
where all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
make us loyal followers of our living Lord,
that we may always hear his word
follow his teachings, and live in his Spirit;
And hasten the day when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that he is Lord
to your eternal glory. Amen.

 

Christ the King
(from the Book of Common Prayer)

Almighty and everlasting God,
it is your will to restore all things to Christ,
whom you have anoinited priest for ever and ruler of creation.
Grant that all the people of the earth,
now divided by the power of sin,
may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever.  Amen.

 

Closing Prayer

We bow out hearts in grateful adoration before you, Lord Jesus; you who bowed so low that you could reach out and lift us up to be with you forever.

Lord, we desire to overflow with endless praise and adoration to you for having called us, because we know that your calling is the highest calling in this life and eternity.

May we be found diligent in serving you and others; may our right hand not know what our left is doing; may we be found faithful until the day you summon us before your throne.

King Jesus, instill in us a deeper sense of wonder and awe, adoration and worship, humility and service as we more keenly perceive your presence among us.  Amen.